While the Lotus Elise will quite rightly celebrate a momentous 25th birthday next year, there's a significant Lotus anniversary going on in 2020: the Exige is 20. Yes, really, aren't we getting old, I remember back then, things ain't what they were and so on...
Although not as vitally important to Lotus as the Elise - or with quite so many sales - the Exige remains an important little sports car for the brand. Because here was a track-focussed, potent Lotus coupe on offer for a little more than 30 grand at the turn of the century. A 340R was vastly more impractical, an Esprit more expensive and the Elise had only got to Sport 160 power by 2000 (with the Sport 190 as special order). As track days were taking off in the UK, so the Exige could fill a handy little niche: the immersiveness and exhilaration of lightweight construction, only with a fixed roof that meant if it rained on the M6 during the drive home, it wasn't the end of the world.
Obviously, despite a more accommodating roof arrangement, the Exige remained a pretty demanding car. The sills made it hard to get into, there still wasn't any power steering and the K Series motor really needed revs to get the best from it. But then it was a 780kg car from the Elise platform with at least 180hp depending on spec - the thrills were more than worth the contortion act of climbing aboard.
While just two models of the Exige S1 were made (arriving in 2000 put it right at the end of original Elise production), the range expanded with the S2: there were supercharged and naturally aspirated models, then a more powerful supercharged car, the Roger Becker special edition, the British GT, the Cup cars and more. The Exige S3 that's currently on sale continued in a similar fashion: now larger and V6-powered, yes, but with an unashamed focus on driving fun and with a host of models. The Exige has forged quite the reputation for itself since 2000.
And this car is where the story begins - it's Exige chassis #0001, the very first car. Currently for sale at Lotus Silverstone with 17,000 miles recorded, it's a rare opportunity to purchase a little bit of Hethel history. Once the press car - see the videos below - the Chrome Orange Exige was seen in Autocar, evo and other magazines, then sold to first owner Scott Wright (apparently he's an actor). The majority of its miles were covered in the early 2000s, with only 1,400 having been added since 2007. The early service history from Lotus Cars and Lotus dealerships remains present and correct, with later maintenance taking place at brand specialists. So not only is it one of the most recognisable Exiges out there, it sounds like one of the best cared for as well.
Now's your chance to carry that story on, at least once life as a car lover returns to somewhere near normal. The price of this Exige is £45,000, which will look a lot to those who remember when nice S1s were less than £20k. But find a collectable car that hasn't risen in value a bit over the past few years. In context of other Exiges - this S1 is £43k, this S2 the best part of £40,000and it doesn't look anywhere near as expensive. And the Exige's £32,995 asking price in 2000 would be £56k nowadays, inflation fans. So maybe £45k isn't so silly.
What might you do with Exige number one? Hopefully it could still be enjoyed on the road here and there, its small (but not miniscule) mileage meaning a few more could be added that won't be many in percentage terms. Certainly, that would be a lot easier to do in this one than the 7,000-mile car that's also on PH. Other than that, the S1 is surely the prettiest Exige of the bunch, so any time it wasn't being driven it wouldn't be wasted - you could just gawp at it.
Perhaps it's too nice for any buyer who really wants to get the most from the Exige experience. Fact is, however, that with fewer than 600 built in just a few months between 2000 and 2001 (then plenty of them written off), the Exige is rapidly accruing classic status - and it's these low mileage cars that keep coming up. After all, if you'd put miles on a Lotus this good, why on earth would you get rid of it?
SPECIFICATION | LOTUS EXIGE S1
Engine: 1,796cc, four-cyl
Transmission: 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 192@7,800rpm
Torque (lb ft): 146@5,000rpm
MPG: 25 (according to ad)
CO2: 183g/km (according to ad)
First registered: 2000
Recorded mileage: 17,141
Price new: £32,995
Yours for: £45,000
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